The 62-year-old guided Italy to the 1994 World Cup final and is reported to have watched the UAE during training ahead of this week's World Cup qualifier against Iran.

After drawing 1-1 with Iran on Wednesday, UAE currently sit at the foot of their World Cup qualifying group with just one point from four games.

UAE are currently coached by Frenchman Dominique Batheney, who took over in September after compatriot Bruno Metsu resigned to join Qatar.

"We have invited him (Sacchi) here to discuss the future of football in the UAE, to discuss strategic planning for the future," UAE Football Association vice-president Saeed Abdul Gaffar Hussain told Abu Dhabi-based newspaper The National.

"The negotiations are still ongoing and we will see how we can go about this. Sacchi is a very big name in the world of football and we will be proud to have him on board, but nothing has been finalised as yet.

"We hope that we will get Sacchi, or someone of that status."

Sacchi, who has also coached AC Milan and was also director of football at Real Madrid, is believed to have been impressed with UAE's victory at the recent Asian U-19 Championships.